NOAA releases 2018 Winter Outlook for the Carolinas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, has released its 2018 Winter Outlook, which says that both North and South Carolinians should expect a wetter than average year with temperatures right around average.

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NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, CPC, is calling for a weak El Nino year. El Nino years generally bring more precipitation to the southern United States.

El Nino is a climate pattern that links sea surface temperatures in the Pacific to weather conditions in North America.

CPC forecasters said there is a 70-75 percent chance that El Nino will form during the fall and continue through the winter.

According to the latest projections, temperatures are expected to be around average.

There are many factors that can impact the seasonal outlook, some of which are not possible to predict on a long-term scale.

The CPC updates its forecast each month and never forecasts snowfall accumulation.

You'll want to stay with the WSOC Weather Team all season long for snowfall forecasts, as well as updates to the long term forecast.

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Cox Media Group